PPP leaders allege discrimination in Punjab

Leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Lahore chapter have expressed their concerns to Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, alleging that the caretaker Punjab set-up is according privileged treatment to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Aslam Gill, the president of the Lahore chapter, shared his views while speaking to The Express Tribune, stating that the PPP was not considered an equal partner in the government. He emphasised that if they were regarded as equal partners, they would be granted the same privileges as the PML-N in Punjab.

Gill pointed out that even at the Union Council level, the PML-N leaders received favourable treatment from the government, allowing them to exercise authority as if they were part of the government itself.

On the other hand, the PPP leaders were allegedly being completely ignored and denied basic requests, such as the provision of a light bulb for a streetlamp, he added.

These concerns were recently conveyed to Chairman Bilawal during a meeting held on Tuesday, and the leaders hoped that he would address the matter with the relevant authorities.

Bilawal also met with the caretaker Minister for Industries SM Tanveer at his residence.

Further, Bilawal participated virtually in a Sindh budget meeting, joining the Sindh chief minister and other cabinet members.

In a notable development within the party, the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) welcomed former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Sania Kamran into its fold on Wednesday.

Sania, who previously served as an MPA on a reserved seat, was officially welcomed by PPP leader Hasan Murtaza during a news conference.

Interestingly, the PPP had earlier expressed its opposition to accommodating politicians who defected from the PTI. Despite this, Murtaza clarified during the ceremony that the PPP would not entertain “electables”. To a question, he lauded the leadership of Bilawal, referring to him as a visionary leader of Pakistan.

The PPPP had previously welcomed two leaders from the PTI, as well as a district-level leader from the PML-N and a member from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) in Bahawalpur.

Moreover, on Sunday, PTI MPA Malik Shamsher Watoo from Faisalabad district also parted ways with his party and joined the PPP.

In yet another addition to the party's ranks, the son of former MPA Chaudhry Hakim Ali from Kasur joined the PPPP, receiving a warm welcome from Bilawal.